The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-10-01
AN EXPERT ON CHOLERA.
Dr. f. v. Shakespeare Tells of His Visit
to Swinburne Island.
From the Ne'o York Herald.


steamship Alesia on Monday, he was visited
by DR.. E. V. Shakespeare, of Philadelphia,
who asked to be allowed to accompany him.
Dr.. Shakespeare was appointed in 1885 by
President Cleveland to visit Europe, and
subsequently, Egypt, to inquire into the
causes of cholera and to MAKE suggestions
to the government as to the best means of
preventing 1t.
DR.. Shakespeare's request was granted.
and he and Health Officer Smith went first
on board the Alesia, where they had an in
terview with the ships surgeon, who halls
from MarseilleS He showed DR. Shakes
peare his sanitary notes of the voyage, from
the time OF sailing from Marseilles up to the
arrival at this port The first case which
he recognized as cholera occurred on Sept.
u; the steamer having sailed from Mar
settles on Aug, 80, with simply her crew and
cargo She touched at Naples for the pur-
pose of taking on board immigrants, a large
number of whom were Sicilians,
The report of the Consul at Naples shows
that for the five weeks previous to the date
OF sailing there had been much cholera in
and around Naples, and that it was not
known how long the Sicilian immigrants had
remained at Naples, nor whether they
brought the disease with them from Sicily
or contracted it in that city. No water or
provisions were taken aboard at Naples
The steamer sailed on Sept. 8 The captain
had intended to touch at Palermo for the
purpose of taking aboard some forty immi-
grants, but the ships surgeon earnestly
protested, in view of the probability of re
ceiving cholera from that city, and the cap
tain determined to sail direct from New
York without touching in Sicily.
THE FIRST SICKNESS.
On examining the notes of illness, as re-
cd nv he II hot
child of some II years of age came under
the Surgeons charge on account of intesti-
nal troubles. These seemed to be relieved
in the course of a few days by simple rene
dies, and the Surgeon did not think that it
was cholera. On Sept 10 the ships baker
was suddenly seized with symptoms of cere-
bral congestion, great oppression in breath
ing, violent vomiting and some cramps, but
the surgeon attributed this attack to fright
from nightmare or to violent anger He
remained i'll until Sept. A. when the notes
for that date state that he had SO far recov-
cred as to enable him to probably resume
his duties the next day. A few days later
the same man had relapse, the symptoms
being characterized as historical, and again
attributed to fright. In the meantime, the
first recognized case of cholera had occurred,
as above stated, ION Sept. II. DR.. Shakes
peare expressed the belief that these two
cases were also cholera.
From the ship the party went to Hoffman
Island where about $50 passengers are under
observation. There they found another
man suffering from cholera. He had been
eating some mussels that he had picked
off the rocks and claimed that he was
simply suffering from indigestion He pro-
tested loudly against being taken to the
hospital for such a trivial cause. The doc
tors decided that he was suffering from
genuine attack of cholera in its early stages
and he was sent to Swinburne Island. The
indications were that he would have
severe attack.
The other passengers, DR.. Shakespeare
said, appeared to be in good health and good
spirits. After the inspection the doctors
visited the fumigating rooms. There are
three of these, and all were at work. A
considerable amount Of the baggage has al
ready been fumigated and is lying in the
store-house. The fumigating rooms are
20x40 feet and are so nearly alright that
only slight traces of the gas are perceptible
on the outside. The garments are separated
and hung up on lines SO that the fumes of
the sulphurous acid gas can permeate them
at all points. They remain in the room for
several hours.
CHOLERA EASILY STAMPED OUT.
While cholera is undoubtedly at times a
frightfully fatal disease and is exceedingly
liable to spread when the slightest careless
ness is practiced by those in charge of the
means of checking it, yet experience has
shown that with a proper means of preven-
ton it is one of the easiest of all epidemic
diseases to stamp out. Fortunately the
specific cause of the disease, whether it be
the comma bacillus of Koch or some other
living agent, is exceedingly susceptible to
the action of destructive measures. 1t is
readily killed by heat, even considerably
below the boiling point, and by most
of the common disinfectants when
thoroughly applied. Indeed, it seems GER
tain that the gastric fluids of the healthy
stomach have the power to kill it. While
the practice of disinfection of the soiled
clothing and the stools of cholera patients
in Italy and Spain has been exceedingly
imperfect, yet III the vast majority of cases
it has been sufficient to protect certain
localities entirely, and even to suddenly cut
short incipient epidemics. With proper
attention to cleanliness of person, food and
drink there is absolutely no danger OF con-
tracing the disease while in attendance on
the sick, as it is not contagious, as are small
pox and measles, through the air, but only
attacks a person by way of the digestive
organs, entering with water or food which
III some way has become contaminated by
the stools which contain the effective agent.
LOOKING FOR THE GERMS.
DR.. Shakespeare made cultures from
the dejecta of several of the patients for the
purpose of ascertaining the presence or alb
sence III them of what is called Kochs comma
bacillus. In all the cases he examined
during the epidemic in Spain, Italy and In
Ola, he says he always found the comma ba-
oillus in the dejecta He has never found it
except in cases of cholera, and consequently
he regards its presence as "A sure diagnostic
Indication of the existence of cholera.
The culture is made by inoculating
small chemical test tube containing mix
ture of beef broth, gelatine and peptone.
This furnishes transparent medium very
favorable to the eXuberant growth of most
forms of bacteria, including the comma
bacillus, which is an exceedingly minute
parasitic plant. DR.. Shakespeare will add
to his forthcoming report to the government
his observations ON these cases. The comma
bacillus multiplies with extraordinary ra-
pidity.
The result of Dr. Shakespeare's Obse:va-
tions will not be made known until after his
return to Philadelphia. He says, however,
that he is convinced from what he saw dur
ing his visit to Swinburne and Hoffman,
Islands that the disease which carried off so
many of the unfortunate passengers of the
AIesia was ASiatic cholera.